A Wildlife-Friendly Garden

I made this little garden last year. The colors after the rain were lovely, the area needs sweeping and the fountain needs cleaning! Here is where the succulents are starting to thrive after being moved from the house.

"Our property is anything but manicured, so we have an abundance of wildlife, deer which will munch anything tasty, muskrats which have breakfasted on some of the best day lilies, chipmunks and squirrels galore, the occasional coyote, etc. Gardening is a real challenge but one I love."

We made this garden just two years ago after removing dead ash trees and incredible amounts of invasive honeysuckle. All the plantings were either moved from other parts of the property or gifted by friends. We bought only the mulch!Butterfly weedAngel wing BegoniasTiger lilies to remind me of my mother's gardenSpring cramscapingA perfect climbing tree for our granddaughterA Common Map turtle making it's way from pond to creek A pair of Canada geese liked our pool planter as a nesting site this spring. At times the goose had to defend her nest from a takeover bid from another goose family and on two occasions called on our help as back up defense. We won and in due time five goslings were born. This is the day they were born and launched into the pond. The whole family had left by next morning.

Keep sending in photos (and stories)! Whether you've never shared before or you've been featured multiple times, we want to see your garden! Email a few photos and the story behind your garden to GPOD@taunton.com.

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Comments

Oh Eddi! You have such a heartwarming and happy gardening story. It definitely shows in the health, lushness and vibrancy of your plants and flowers as well as the cohabiting wildlife. Im' so glad you've returned with more photos to GPOD.

Good morning, Eddi. Wonderful wild garden. I wish I could be so Zen like yourself about the pests. I know it is part of being 'wild' but drives me wildly insane at times. I really like that you have a garden spot from transplants and donations alone - it's a real testament to the power of gardening and its enthusiasts. Is that a hakuro nishiki in the background of the first photo? Everything looks great. Thanks for sharing.

I'm with you, David. Maybe Eddi could give us both a course in rolling with the wildlife punches. Of course, I have an advantage since Eddi and I live so close to each other. But then again, maybe I rather enjoy the battle......

It certainly keeps us on our toes, and I suppose even creative, as we try to out-garden the "feasters". Sparks of ingenuity. I've come up with some interesting methods. I did finally beat the squirrels, at least in regards to bird feeders, so, you're right - the battle has its place. And ultimately there is some affirmation (and zen) when you notice every creature wants to be at your place. Something must be right. Though I still have absolutely no tolerance for voles.

There you have it, David! The wildlife is your reward for providing such a friendly environment. As for the battles, well I have those ,too. I have learned over the years to avoid planting items which deer find delicious. And I cheat. Because we have to provide some fencing, I put the really tasty plants within the fenced area on two sides of the house. What I hadn't bargained for is how resourceful that blessed muskrat has become! I'm really having to think creatively to outwit him.
Mostly, I find all the different creatures fascinating, so I'm not really dedicated to removing them.
Who could resist watching a tiny chipmunk try to reach a tempting flower or enjoy tiny fauns chasing each other? Not I.

Hi, Eddi, I enjoyed the warmth of your commentary as much as the vibrancy of your garden. It looks like a very welcoming place to all...esp. with your generous attitude of co-existance with unofficial visitors of the 4 legged variety. And, with that beautiful butterfly weed, are you equally blessed with monarch butterflies fluttering about in season? Your angel wing begonia is glorious and your stand of the white lilies are majestic. I, for one, would certainly feel at home wandering about and wishing I was 60 years younger (gulp, that's such a big number) so I could give that tree a climb!

Thank you Michaele. This year I have seen no Monarchs - very worrying. However the milkweed has not yet flowered and we've had torrents of rain to deal with. We have a big patch of white Veronica which has attracted a lot of bees and various butterfly types. Otherwise only the odd swallowtail and whites.
You could climb that tree, you're just a whipper snapper. I daren't let my granddaughter know that I could, too, or she would be crushed. I'm sure that we have both had lots of practice, you and I!

I just love gardens that invite wildlife. It is so important that we gardeners fill in the missing fragments of nature corridors as we continue to destroy habitat. Interesting, smart, and risky the geese relied on your help! A beautiful garden isn't complete without wildlife, and yours is certainly beautiful. I especially love the "climbing tree."

There certainly is. This whole place is built around the pond so we live with that view most of the time. It is very secluded and filled with birdsong.
The deer are not our biggest problem - try nesting and voracious muskrats?

Eddi! This is like old home week. So glad you sent in some more photos. Everything is filling in so beautifully since I saw the garden waking in the spring. That begonia is to die for, and although I don't welcome furry wildlife into my garden, I'd gladly take a turtle or two! He or she is so cool! I love the butterfly weed and the artemisia too. Well done!

Do you have one, Tim? Pretty necessary with the little guys. I don't think they were sunbathing on old logs at the other side of the pond when you came over, but sometimes we have spotted more than a dozen. They are very shy so it would be hard to catch one.
Tortoises are cute, too, and don't need a pond. They also don't bark, mew or frighten others!

What a lovely tour through your garden. I loved seeing the variety of plants. I especially loved your comment about "cramscaping". I think we are all a little guilty of that, but what a wonderful result! Thank you for posting.

Eddi, your garden is a little piece of Heaven, and obviously the animals agree. My garden is not manicured either and the deer and bunnies munch at will. But there is enough for everyone and we all have to live. I protect the plants I have to, like peas, lettuce and tulips.Thanks for sharing your lovely place.

Hi Eddie, just love everything in your yard. I wish I had some of your Mom's white tiger Lillies. I have the orange tiger Lillies that I had gotten from my Mom's yard many years ago. Your white ones are gorgeous. And how smart it is that you were able to transplant and get plants from friends at no cost. I have done that before too. And then all the wildlife that you get to enjoy along with the beauty of your plants. The picture of the geese family is adorable. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing your photos.

I was blown away when quickly checking e mail this morning, to find that Susan had posted these pictures. Thank you so much, it is such a thrill to have my garden shared on GPOD.
Today is horrendously busy so just a quick thank you to you all right now. Will reply to as many as possible later today.

This made for a lovely image and a good laugh with my morning coffee! John and I are kindred spirits. I once chased a rather large raccoon off our porch roof with a paint roller. Necessity is the mother of invention, so to speak.

Eddi ~ I love your gardens! So lush and vibrant, the first photo of your newest garden is very charming and looks like it must have been fun to create. It seems that you have a large area with which to garden and share with wildlife. What fun for you. Thanks for sharing all of your great photos,

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